strive

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb strive differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of strive are attempt, endeavor, essay, and try. While all these words mean "to make an effort to accomplish an end," strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.

continues to strive for peace

Where would attempt be a reasonable alternative to strive?

The words attempt and strive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.

will attempt to photograph the rare bird

When is endeavor a more appropriate choice than strive?

Although the words endeavor and strive have much in common, endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.

endeavored to find crash survivors in the mountains

When is it sensible to use essay instead of strive?

In some situations, the words essay and strive are roughly equivalent. However, essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.

will essay a dramatic role for the first time

How do try and attempt relate to one another, in the sense of strive?

Try is often close to attempt but may stress effort or experiment made in the hope of testing or proving something.

tried to determine which was the better procedure

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of strive My mantra is to strive to reconcile myself with the past, engage and enjoy the present, and look forward to the future. Sally Ventura june 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025 These latest additional targets, combined with the rising civilian casualties in Israel, constitute an escalation where both sides are striving to alienate the opposing side’s public from its leadership. Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025 For the striving artists, a steady job is not a compromise but a strategic advantage, a powerful catalyst for sustained creativity and personal well-being. Kice Akkawi, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025 Jared, a division of Signet Jewelers, is striving to increase its relevancy to today’s customers in other ways as well. David Moin, Footwear News, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for strive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strive
Verb
  • Now, with no practical skills to speak of, the newly unemployed Grant struggled to find work.
    Casey Cep, New Yorker, 28 June 2025
  • However, San Jose has struggled to keep pace, with the city failing to see a single construction start last year for market-rate multi-family developments over 20 units, making the Pleasant Hills project a potential bonus should it be constructed.
    Devan Patel, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Witnesses told police the car’s alarm was going off because the 8-year-old was trying to get out of the car.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2025
  • The Islanders are trying to build a Cup contender, not merely a team that competes for a playoff spot.
    Rob Rossi, New York Times, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Haliburton was laboring, and the Pacers were working around it.
    Tony East, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • Indeed, where Webb got soft contact and quick outs, needing just 98 pitches to complete his seventh seven-inning outing of the season, Yamamoto labored through hitters’ counts and long at-bats, issuing a career-high five walks while finding the strike zone on just 56 of his 102 pitches.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
Verb
  • Kenya's Faith Kipyegon attempted to become the first woman to run a mile in under 4 minutes yesterday, but her personal best came up short.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 27 June 2025
  • In response, class counsel has accused the objectors’ lawyers of attempting to use procedural tactics to secure millions of dollars in fees—potentially at the expense of hundreds of thousands of athletes.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Perhaps reflecting the changing finances and current geographical realities of the industry, 43 of those 48 projects are independent films, with many working with budgets of $10M or less.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 24 June 2025
  • Evolution tends to repeat what works, AKA convergent evolution.
    Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • Not surprisingly, Justice Jackson simply noted her dissent without endeavoring to explain it.
    The Editors, National Review, 20 May 2025
  • More than 6,000 brands have been rated so far, with staffers generally endeavoring to update scores every 12 to 18 months to judge progress (or backsliding, as the case may be).
    Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Strive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strive. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on strive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!